Justification:Abies balsamea var. phanerolepis is assessed as Data Deficient. The subpopulations of this variety are undoubtedly relatively small and scattered (fragmented) but there is insufficient information about their number, extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) for a credible assessment to be made. Another problem is identity and several reports and specimen databases of herbaria list occurrences of this variety in Canada (e.g. Nova Scotia at the Harvard Herbaria) which are likely to be just forms of A. balsamea var. balsamea with (slightly) exserted bracts.

The subpopulations in the mountains of Virginia and West Virginia form the southernmost extent of the species and are scattered and isolated. Fires, pathogens and air pollution from industrial centres are (potential) threats.